What a fun couple of days hunting and gathering. It was one of those weekends when low tide happened twice a day. I was able to shell in the morning, and take my niece and nephew crabbing in the late afternoon.  Here are some highlights (I didn't get any pictures crabbing because of the muddy conditions).

Masonboro Island marsh.

First finds.

Sea Urchin and dead crab in background.

Whelk egg case on left; horse conk egg casing on right. 

Key and coral.

Sand dollar found on beach side of Masonboro.

Monday morning finds.

I love our Jones Bros.

It was a lovely as it looks.

Cheers,

Margaret

Exploring islands over the fourth...

Without actually planning it, I went on vacation over the 4th.  It was so nice to wake up at the beach, read on the porch, and explore islands I love.  It began on Ocean Drive, then some spill islands at Wrightsville Beach, and plenty of time on Masonboro Island.  Perhaps the highlight was witnessing a beached dolphin on the ocean side of Masonboro being rescued and successfully walked in a tarp back out to his home.  

Run loot!

Sea Urchin 1

Sea Urchin 2

Sea Urchin 3 - and with a key hole no less...

Dolphin being cared for before being successfully released.  It's amazing how large these awesome mammals are...

Masonboro Island - aren't we lucky to have barrier islands?! 

I hope you all had a happy fourth!  Here's to the rest of the summer crawling by!

Cheers,
Margaret

Wedge Piddock

After Tropical Storm Andrea, I found a shell that I have never found before.  I tried going online to discover what this strange bivalve was, but not until I located my book, Seashells of North Carolina, did I identify these strange shells as wedge piddocks, also called a wedge-shaped martesia.

Wedge Piddocks are small boring clams that live burrowed in submerged driftwood.

Or, maybe a submerged old boat sponge.

They are a little bit on the creepy side when you find them alive.  Here, attached to a piece of Styrofoam...

I recommend having a shell book of your own.  The image of the book below is the book I own, and if you live in North Carolina or surrounding state beaches, it will prove beneficial.  You can get your copy here.

Glad the mystery is solved.  Happy Shelling!

Cheers,

Margaret

Prime Fossil Locale: The Beach!

Maybe when you hear the word fossil, you immediately feel tired because you are reminded of elementary school, and boredom.  But, let's be honest.  Fossils are cool.  Really cool.  And, you can find them in the midst of new shells while you stroll along the beach.  I recently found 2 fossil at Ocean Drive, SC.  And, I am such a dork that last weekend they traveled with me home for a weekend with my family.  I had to show everyone.

Can you believe this fossil Sea Biscuit?  A Sea Biscuit is in the Sand Dollar and Sea Urchin Family.  Technically, in the Enchinoderm Family.  This fossil is a smaller sea biscuit; the more prominent ones, and perhaps ones you may have seen before in your Mimi's house that she found years ago, are bigger and also more fragile.  This fossil is heavy because of the fossil's stone sediment.

Front - you can see at the top of the picture two parts of the typical sand dollar star. :)

Back.

Mildly obsessed with my sea biscuit fossil. 

Here are a couple pictures of sea biscuits that are not fossils, and ones that I did not find.  (Just so you have something to compare the above fossil to):

Credit:  etsy.com/Seasidestore (apparently you can purchase these very easily).

Credit:  www.myyellowshovel.com

After Tropical Storm Andrea, I found this piece of what was a very large scallop - you can see half of the bow tie.

Scallop Fossil

Loot!

And, we cannot possibly discuss fossils, without speaking of the living fossil, the Horseshoe Crab.  How flipping cool are these amazing animals (and over 480 million years old - older than dinosaurs!).  I found these two babies on Masonboro Island this past Saturday.

Holy Horseshoe Crab!

Happy Shelling!  And, Happy Summer!

Cheers,

Margaret

Shell Feature: The Lightning Whelk

The lightning whelk is such fun to find!  And, because of it's left handed sinistral shell, it is unique.  Often people confuse the lightning whelk with a knobbed whelk and other conchs, which are "right-handed" with a right handed sinistral shell.  I have confused the two multiple times, and just recently did so when I found egg cases of lightning whelks.  I assumed they were egg cases of knobbed whelks.

I find tiny lightning whelks more often than large whelks, often on both along sound at Masonboro Island, and along the ocean at Wrightsville Beach and Ocean Drive.  Here are a few of my favorites from my collection.

Ocean Drive photo shoot.  They look like ice cream cones. :)

Pre- photo shoot.

5 different sizes.

Left handed sinistral shell.

Smaller whelk - only about 1.5" in length.

Baby whelks found in egg case (on Bald Head), with larger whelk  (found on Longboat Key, FL).

These lovely whelks can be found all the way up in New Jersey and down through the Gulf.  The Lightning Whelk is the state shell of Texas, and quite the clammer.  Adults usually eat one clam a month, and use their shell to help pry open the shell.  Wonder if they ever casino their clams?

Cheers!

Margaret

Waties Island

Waties (WAY-teez) Island, SC

I recently moved to Ocean Drive Beach in South Carolina, which technically is North Myrtle Beach, SC.  Cherry Grove is the beach just to the north, and technically also North Myrtle Beach, SC.  Regardless of the technical name, both are lovely beach communities.  (This is coming from someone who grew up convinced that Myrtle Beach was a bit on the redneck side - and regardless that this past week was Black Bike Week - I love being here and I am enjoying these beaches immensely!) In addition, over lunch a few days ago, my boyfriend and I noticed a map of an inlet, which happens to be just north of Cherry Grove.  We were immediately excited, and yesterday made the trip to The Point at Cherry Grove.  Prior to that, I went on Google Earth to check out what to expect.  You can imagine my excitement learning that Waties Island, a 2.7 barrier island, lay to it's north!  It's like a mini-Masonboro Island!  I am so flipping excited about this discovery - and can't wait to spend many summer days exploring this fine island: shelling, fishing, and hopefully hunting and gathering in the sound waters behind it.

Aerial Photo (although a bit dated) of Waties Island.  Cherry Grove is just to the left.  Little River inlet is north (right).

The tide was falling when we arrived, and once the tide changed, we headed back, walking across the inlet in the breakers.  We spotted a skate on the way, and the current was subtle yet super strong.  I miss my boat :).  I doubt the siblings would appreciate me bringing it to SC for the summer.  I also managed to find some sand dollars and other treasures.

Waties Gems

The Point at Cherry Grove is a gem itself.  Especially at low tide.  What a beautiful inlet!

The Point at Cherry Grove and Waties Island in the short distance.

I hope you all had a Happy Memorial Day, and I hope you have the best summer yet! 

Cheers!
Margaret

Cherry Grove Villas on Dwellable

Knobbed Whelk (Conch) Egg Case with baby whelks :)!!

Many of you have run across Knobbed Whelk egg cases while strolling the beach.  Maybe you didn't know what they were, or maybe you did.  But, rarely have you found them with the baby conchs still enclosed.  Lucky for me, I found a bunch of them last weekend on Bald Head Island.  Here are a handful of photos that spell out better than I can type, the egg casing and how whelk's multiply.

Knobbed Whelk Egg Case

One layer - if you look closely you can see the baby whelks inside.

Now you can really see them :).

I took what I could so I can take them out and decorate.  

Baby baby whelks and baby whelks a little more grown up.

Amazing!

What a fun find - the work it takes to get them all out is doing me in.  But, it will be worth it when I have a jar full.  More than this!

Baby Whelks

Happy Shelling this weekend!

Cheers!
Margaret

She sells seashells down by the seashore.

Kind of.  Well, if you really think about it, I do exactly that.  The scarves I sell are inspired by the shells I find, so essentially I am selling shells near the seashore.

I also keep my shells and decorate my house with them.  Finding the perfect container can be touch.  Recently, I have had some luck.

I love Anthropologie for so many reasons, one of them being that you can find exactly what you want even when you don't know that you're looking for it.  Get yours here (and, they make 2 other sizes too)!

The Chemist's Jar

HeLLO shells...a close up!

The next two pictures are also from Anthropologie and they are on sale!  Get them here.

Lava-Drizzle Vase in white.

Lava-Drizzle Vase in Blue Motif.

The Bald Head Island Club has the BEST she crab soup, and they use these tiny jars for the sherry for the soup.  I always wanted it for my tiny treasures.  And, I found them at Wal-mart of all places.  They are $0.97

Sherry glasses

I infrequently visit antique shops and check out their old jars; I've found a few gems.  But, I think I enjoy finding good containers when I'm not looking for them.  Also, the one in the back in the following picture can be found in all sizes at Target and Wal-Mart.  They are kind of common looking, but they get the job done.  Get the 2 gallon jar here.

Antique Jars, Target Jar

You would think that it would get old, this shell collecting thing, but it doesn't.  

Cheers!

Margaret

Tis the season for Hunting and Gathering

Sunday at Wrightsville Beach, NC

Sunday was an incredible weather day.  Maybe perfect.  Or, at least perfect for crabbing.  My brother and I ran to Harris Teeter and found some very large leg pieces, 10 I believe for $4.12 and headed out to our secret spot (which, is probably everyone's secret spot).  Side note:  don't you love how most beach people have a secret spot that they've talked about all their lives, and then one day, you take someone with you, to your secret spot, and they tell you that they've also been coming to the same place for years. 

Here is the before picture of the hunt and gather.  Tent stakes make perfect crab lines!  And, obviously these nets need to be replaced.  I think crab nets only last one season.

Hunting and Gathering Gear

The first hunt and gather of the season can be slightly nerve racking for me.  I worry that the crabs won't be there yet, that it's too early, or they will be too small.  Which is kinda silly - they are bottom dwellers.

Gorgeous Jerry

Fruition

Mother's Day Crab Pick!

Slightly more professional hunt and gather boat.

We brought the crabs (and clams) back to cook up a fantastic mother's day feast - maybe not the one Momma intended, but one she definitely enjoyed!  I can't wait to go hunting and gathering again soon!

Hunting and Gathering gear can be found most places:  Walmart, West Marine...etc., but I find that the best places to grab it all is the local Craft American Hardware store.  Happy Hunting!

Cheers!
Margaret